Time to abolish the county system

Saturday

Remind us again why we need county government because those who are in charge in Plymouth County surely aren’t giving taxpayers reason for its existence.

And it seems that Plymouth is inching its way toward the dire fiscal straits and political infighting once experienced by the eight other since abolished counties that now function as geographic entities only.

The latest fiasco – latest being the keyword here – should send the message to voters and lawmakers loud and clear that county government is dysfunctional and is only a way to throw good money after bad.

On Thursday, in a rare show of force, nearly all the members of the Plymouth County Advisory Board – made up of one selectman from each of the county’s 27 towns – turned out to tell the three commissioners they are tired of the fiscal ineptitude and internecine war among the trio that is being played out in the media.

Plymouth Selectman Richard Quintal may have been speaking for all when he said his patience has been tested and his support is waning.

“If they come back next year with a budget like this, that’s it,’’ he said. “I’ll be going to my friends in the State House to talk about getting rid of county government.”

At the meeting, selectmen complained they were not given any time to review the $11 million budget and the presentation of the documents was shoddy, unprofessional and incomplete.

Part of the problem stems from no one knowing who’s in charge after Commission Chairman Jeffrey Welch declared himself to be in charge in the long-term absence of County Administrator Rosalie Rodick.

Rodick has been out on sick leave since news emerged she had signed off on a proposed 26 percent pay hike for her niece and she had not informed state or county officials of the conflict of interest of her sister and niece being on the county payroll.

Welch said all information and administration will now flow through him, a declaration that may or may not be supported legally and one that adversary Commissioner Timothy McMullen has chafed at.

The solution is all very simply. turn everything over to the state and be done with it.

County government is a vestige of the political gamesmanship of the 18th century in Massachusetts. It is not part of the state’s constitution but rather a creation of the Legislature to reward political allies and create the commonwealth’s version of the feudal system.

In the 47 other states that have county government, many are charged with maintaining roads or schools and their sheriffs’ departments are the law enforcement authorities.

In Massachusetts, highways are a function of the state highway department and cities and towns are responsible for the nonhighways within their boundaries.

In 1997, the Legislature abolished Middlesex, Berkshire, Essex, Hampden and Worcester counties and in subsequent years relegated Franklin, Hampshire and Suffolk counties to the same status. Only six county governments remain and we question why.

A state takeover would mean the underperforming $650 million Plymouth County pension fund would be administered by the state pension authority, which has a far better track record on returns.

It would mean the $61.7 million sheriff’s budget would become part of the state budget and more likely to avoid the annual deficits and supplemental requests and eliminate the biggest distraction for the sheriff and allow him to focus more on public safety and corrections.

It would mean the elimination of an elected treasurer whose lack of experience required the creation in the latest budget of a controversial and costly accountant post.

In the eight counties that have become extinct, the sheriffs, registers of deeds and district attorneys are still elected but their employees are state employees, reducing benefit costs and administrative overhead.

At Thursday’s meeting, the advisory panel approved a $15,000 study of Plymouth County government.

Save the money. It’s clear as day that Plymouth County government is an anachronistic vestige whose time passed long ago. Abolish the state’s remaining county systems.

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